Post by Mundell on Feb 26, 2024 18:32:38 GMT
It’s all completely ridiculous, but very hard for the Premier League (or the EFL) to manage. Everton cheated quite deliberately, by no small margin either, and gained an advantage in the seasons during which they overspent, potentially enabling them to avoid relegation. They will, however, now survive comfortably this season with their only penalty being be the loss of a merit payment based on League table position. Cheating will have paid.
What’s worse is that Everton have been charged with cheating again, based on their 2022-23 accounts. That case must be heard by April 8th. However, if that leads to another points deduction Everton will be able to appeal that decision too and that appeal would not take place until after the end of the season. In other words, it’s entirely possible that Everton will be found guilty of cheating twice without the sporting sanctions imposed have any material impact this season.
To add insult to injury, the much heralded Football Regulator (IREF) has already said it will not impose sporting sanctions and will, instead, leave that to the relevant football authorities. That’s obviously an entirely political decision (docking points from football clubs isn’t a vote winner even if it’s the right thing to do) that makes it very clear that the IREF is an entirely populist initiative that in all likelihood will make no practical difference to the way football is governed.
The real issue to me is the fact the deduction gets announced and gets applied immediately. Surely if there were rounds to review/appeal then the decision hasn’t realistically be made? I.e. The deduction (and league position) isn’t changed until the penalty is confirmed. Therefore, the other teams understand there’s likely to be a reduction but they can’t guarantee how much until it’s confirmed and then applied.
In any event, the teams at the bottom end of the Premier League table will have been concentrating on getting as many points as they can, not focusing on finishing above Everton. That tends to change once we get into the run in but that’s why these decisions have to be made well before the end of the season.
All that having been said, I agree it’s all entirely unsatisfactory.
